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SHOWTIME
AUTOMANIA | Your weekly motoring guide
Thursday
21 May 2015
10
Impressive
InnOvaTIOn
The creaTiviTy and Technical prowess of Taiwan’s afTer-markeT
auTomoTive parTs indusTry was recenTly showcased aT The 2015 Taipei
ampa (inTernaTional auTo parTs and accessories) Trade fair.
Story and photos by
THOMAS HUONG
huong@thestar.com.my
T
Lightweight, forged aluminium alloy wheels for motorcycles from Wukawa
Industry.
AIWAN is known for
innovating and manufacturing high-quality
automotive parts and
accessories at competitive prices.
The annual Taipei
AMPA (international
auto parts and accessories) trade fair
is touted as the world’s leading automotive trade fair for those looking to
buy products and parts on motorised
wheels.
Organised by the Taiwan External
Trade Development Council (Taitra),
the four-day trade fair was held
early last month.
Taiwan has a thriving motorcycle manufacturing industry, with
Kymco and SYM being the dominant
domestic brands to compete with
Japan’s Yamaha Motor.
To put this into perspective,
according to 2013 statistics, there
were slightly over 15 million motorcycles in Taiwan’s population of 23.4
million.
This means there are almost seven
motorcycles for every 10 persons.
Among the exhibitors at 2015
Taipei AMPA was Chian-Yie
Industrial Co Ltd which supplies
Secchi (left) and Ng showcasing the company’s many products.
parts and accessories for scooters
and mopeds under its brand NCY.
These include wheels, ECU (electronic control unit), fuel supply
systems, brake components and CVT
(continuously variable transmission).
According to Chian-Yie Industrial
general manager Chen Chung-Jung,
about 60% of the products from the
company’s three factories
are exported.
“We have 20 CNC (computer
numerical control) machines. Our
main export market is Japan, followed by the United States,” said
Chen.
Another innovative Taiwanese
company was 3D King Co Ltd, which
makes multi-functional jackets for
motorcyclists.
SHOWTIME
AUTOMANIA | Your weekly motoring guide
Thursday
21 May 2015
11
Tseng with the company’s motorcycle helmet visor wipers.
These award-winning jackets are
designed with extra materials that
provide face masks to cover the nose
and mouth, glove-like folds to cover
hands, and a backpack option.
“The jackets protect your skin
from wind, dust and sun damage.
They use quick dry and cooling fabric; so you won’t feel hot,” said 3D
King general manager Yu Yu.
The jackets are priced from
NT$1,500 (RM176) onwards.
Meanwhile, for those looking to
upgrade their carburetor equipped
motorcycles, Eltronix Co Ltd offers
its SparKing programmable digital
CDI (capacitor discharge ignition).
Eltronix president Chamber Ling
said SparKing can be used in single-cylinder motorcycles of 100cc to
250cc, and has a micro-controller as
well as plug-and-play capabilities.
“The SparKing CDI provides a
high-performance, programmable
motorcycle engine ignition system,”
said Ling.
Eltronix also offers its R2Power
rectifier regulator for bikers who
want improved power efficiency and
extended battery life.
As for those who want higher performance and fuel efficiency from
their fuel-injected bikes, IC Leader
Technology Corp Ltd offers its EZECU
range of after-market ECUs for fuel
injection and ignition systems.
The EZECU brand is readily
identifiable by a Taiwan Black Bear
graphic.
The company’s head Webb Tang
said the ECUs are easily installed and
are plug-and-play ready.
Prices start from NT$9,500
(RM1,113).
Chen’s company makes parts and accessories for scooters and mopeds, and
retails them under its brand NCY.
“We have more than 45 types of
ECUs. Research and development,
design and production are all done
in Taiwan,” he said.
While many of the ECUs are for
fuel-injected motorcycles under
250cc, there are also units for
more powerful bikes like the 530cc
Yamaha TMAX.
“Many racing teams in Taiwan use
our ECUs. In Malaysia, it is a popular
after-market choice for the Yamaha
FZ150i,” said Tang.
Meanwhile, Accel Technology
Corp is known as the industry leader
in Taiwan when it comes to small
after-market components such as
plugs, covers, nuts, caps, spacers,
Tang presenting the EZECU range of after-market engine control units.
screws and bolts on a motorcycle.
Set up in 1995, the company’s 18
CNC machines also help to produce
metal rollerblade guards.
Motorcycle parts include brake
line and rotator clamps, oil filter
covers, engine plug kits, clutch
and folding levers, mud flaps,
lever blades, chain rollers,
axle blocks and sprockets.
According to Accel
Technology CEO Alex Liu,
about 90% of production
is exported to the United
States, Europe and Asia.
Liu said Accel
Technology’s advantages
lie in its parts design
and customisation
capabilities.
The trade fair also
had exhibitors like
the Aixstream group
which offers a range
of helmets, footwear
and apparel for motorcyclists.
Based in France and founded in
2009, the group has brands such as
Astone (helmets), V’Quattro Design
(footwear and gloves), Overlap
(jeans) and Octopuss (waterproof
bags).
“Our products are certified in
Europe and tested for abrasion,
shock and perforation. The materials used, stitching and technical
designs are geared for bikers,” said
Aixstream group partner Philippe
Secchi.
We also checked out Haihao
Technology Co Ltd which makes
motorcycle helmet visor wipers for
better vision in rainy weather.
A model from 3D King Co Ltd showing
off the company’s multi-functional
jackets for motorcyclists.
Su displaying the company’s I-Key immobiliser key system for motorcycles.
The company’s general manager
Jerry Tseng said the helmet visor
wiper uses a 6cm silicone-rubber
blade, and is available with a remote
control unit or fixed control buttons.
It is lightweight (265 grams) and
can run for eight hours, powered by
four AA-sized alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries.
Another Haihao Technology
product is its UPC-700 mini portable camcorder, which Tseng said
is priced at NT$5,770 (RM675) per
unit.
The portable camcorder is waterproof, lightweight (50 grams),
supports 32GB micro SD cards and
records in high-definition 1080P or
720P resolution.
It can connect to Android devices
and has a 1,000mAh li-ion battery
for up to six hours of operation.
The compact-sized portable
camcorder can be hung on shirts or
installed on car dashboards and even
integrated into helmets.
“We have sold 20,000 units since
its launch last year in Taiwan. Many
were sold to the police force. The
device is useful in recording evidence and mishaps,” said Tseng.
As for Wukawa Industry Co Ltd,
it manufactures 12, 13 and 17-inch
lightweight forged aluminium alloy
wheels for motorcycles.
Jasmine, a senior executive in
Wukawa, said the wheels were
mainly exported to the US, Japan,
Thailand and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, those looking for an
immobiliser key system can check
out the I-Key from What-Trend
Technology Co Ltd.
The company’s manager Tim Su
said the I-Key can be installed on
most motorcycles and is priced at
US$40 (RM145) per unit.
“It is similar to a car’s smart key
and immobiliser system. For two
years, we tested this on various
models and brands of motorcycles. It
was not easy!,” said Su.
Powered by a cell battery, the
I-Key’s operational life is more than
two years.
REAR VIEW
AUTOMANIA | Your weekly motoring guide
Thursday
21 May 2015
12
Hyping up
tHE sHoW
T
HERE was plenty of eye
candy at the 2015 Taipei
AMPA (international auto
parts and accessories)
trade fair as a lineup
of sexy and stunning
models added a touch
of glamour to the event.
Surrounded by enthusiastic photographers, the female promoters appeared
to be getting equal if not more attention
at the mega automotive trade fair.
Held from April 8 to 11 in the
Taiwanese capital, the annual event featured 1,401 exhibitors and a record high
of 3,816 booths.
Held at two venues, namely the
Nangang Exhibition Hall complex
and the Taipei World Trade Centre, it
attracted 7,300 international buyers and
60,000 visitors.
The five-in-one show had display
sections for auto parts and accessories,
automobile electronics, electric vehicles,
tuning and car care, and motorcycles.
There were also exhibitors from
Malaysia, Thailand, China, Germany,
Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South
Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines,
Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.
The Malaysian pavilion was led by
the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion
Council (MREPC) and seven automotive
part makers.
The products by Malaysian companies included O-rings, oil seals, gaskets,
rubber boots and bushings, performance auto parts, rubber and plastic
components for motorcycles and cars,
and rubber hoses. — THOMAS HUONG